Summary of 536 AD: The Year That The Sun Disappeared | Catastrophe | Real History

• 00:00:15

  Approximately 1500 years ago, a catastrophic event occurred that plunged the world into darkness, with the sun disappearing, blood-colored rain, dust clouds, long winters, drought, famine, and plague. This event led to the collapse of civilizations and the deaths of millions. Historian David Keys conducted extensive research into this event, consulting experts and analyzing records from the 6th and 7th centuries. Tree ring data from Mike Bailey suggested a drastic climatic change during the mid-6th century, which altered the course of history. Bailey's computer system matched tree ring patterns, revealing a record of changing weather patterns dating back thousands of years.

• 00:05:39

  Tree ring widths are studied to understand past climate conditions. By analyzing samples from the same parent tree, scientists can trace weather patterns back thousands of years. In the mid-6th century AD, tree rings globally showed a significant decrease in growth, indicating a catastrophic event. This phenomenon affected trees in various regions, suggesting a widespread environmental disturbance. The abnormal growth patterns in tree rings from 536 AD point to potential causes such as darkness, cold, natural pollution, or drought.

• 00:09:21

  In 536 AD, there was a noticeable decrease in the size of vessels' growth rings, indicating frost damage due to extremely cold weather. This climate change led to crop failures, forcing people in areas like Ireland to rely on non-agricultural resources like fishing and hunting, putting a strain on the population. Archaeological evidence, including submerged timbers from island forts, supports the theory of harsh conditions. Written accounts from the time, such as those by the Syrian bishop John of Ephesus, describe bizarre weather phenomena, including the sun disappearing for 18 months, suggesting a significant climatic event in the mid-6th century. The Roman Empire, at the peak of its power, also faced challenges from these environmental changes.

• 00:13:23

  In the 530s, there were historical accounts from John in Constantinople and Cassiodorus in Italy mentioning a two-year dimming of the sun, which had significant impacts on the climate in the Mediterranean and the Middle East. Records from civilizations like China, Korea, and Japan also detailed similar sun-dimming events and their consequences on crops and temperatures. Research suggested that the catastrophic event may have been caused by an asteroid, comet, or volcano, with the amount of dust and debris thrown into the atmosphere having a long-lasting impact on the climate. Scientists at Los Alamos have studied the atmospheric effects of cosmic collisions, highlighting the potential catastrophic consequences of such events on Earth.

• 00:18:12

  In order to cause a significant impact on Earth's climate, a large asteroid or comet would need to be at least four kilometers wide or even larger. Alan Fitzsimmons calculated that a six kilometer wide comet could have a noticeable effect. As the comet approached Earth, it would gradually become brighter and larger in the sky until just before impact when it would be the brightest object. The lack of historical records or evidence of a crater from the 6th century suggests that such an event likely did not occur. The possibility of an impact in the ocean, causing massive tidal waves, also remains unconfirmed. Scientists have not found conclusive evidence of an asteroid or comet strike during this period, leading to speculation about alternative explanations, such as atmospheric fragmentation of a comet.

• 00:21:51

  The bombardment event described by David Keyes involves a large number of comet pieces exploding in the atmosphere, with the 1908 Tunguska impact serving as a model. This event was an airburst explosion caused by a lightweight meteor, not releasing enough particles to affect the weather. Mike Bailey suggests that a shower of cometary debris could impact the climate. Arthur's death in the 6th century, as described in British legends, coincides with a potential climatic catastrophe caused by cometary bombardment. Bailey theorizes that Arthur could symbolize the devastation caused by a comet. Keyes explores the role of mythology, linking Arthur to the Celtic god Lugh, possibly representing a comet. The possibility of cometary bombardment or a volcano causing such events is discussed, with investigation into ice core samples from Greenland and Antarctica providing potential clues.

• 00:25:17

  In 536 AD, researchers study ice cores from Greenland to analyze the atmosphere's chemistry. They look for traces of rare chemical elements like iridium or sulfuric acid, indicating a comet/asteroid impact or volcanic eruption, respectively. By examining the ice cores from around 535 AD, they find a significant spike in sulfate levels, confirming a major volcanic eruption that had global consequences. This discovery is further supported by similar volcanic signals found in Antarctic ice cores, suggesting a climatically impactful event occurring in both hemispheres.

• 00:29:02

  In the mid-6th century, a massive volcanic eruption caused global climate damage, indicated by tree rings and ice cores showing a sulfur spike. Climate downturns from volcanic eruptions occur every thousand years, with the most recent event happening in the mid-6th century. Despite our current quiet century in terms of volcanic activity, a major eruption could still disrupt the climate. Investigating ancient records, David Keys narrowed down the search for the 6th century volcano to Southeast Asia, specifically pinpointing a loud mysterious sound recorded in China in February 535, linking it to the Indonesian region known for its active volcanoes.

• 00:33:29

  In Mexico, near a volcano, explosive eruptions create shockwaves that travel thousands of miles, losing high frequencies and leaving only low frequencies known as infrasound. A text from the Book of Kings in Java describes a cataclysmic event around 536 AD involving dark skies, thunder, earthquakes, and flooding, possibly relating to the eruption of the Krakatoa volcano. Volcanologist Professor Harolder Sigurdsson discovered evidence of a massive ancient eruption on Krakatoa and sought to date the event using charcoal deposits, leading to a funded expedition to Java by Channel 4 to validate the theory proposed by David Keys.

• 00:37:45

  Krakatoa, an uninhabited group of rainforest islands, is famous for its major eruption in 1883 which killed 36,000 people. The island of Anak Krakatoa has grown into a thousand foot high volcanic island since the eruption. Anak Krakatoa continues to experience eruptions, adding more rock to the island over time. Scientists believe Krakatoa holds a centuries-old secret, with the possibility of a pattern of explosions and volcanic growth over the years. Professor Sigurdsson and his team are studying the island to understand its geological history.

• 00:42:19

  In this segment, Professor Sigurdsson explores the possibility of a buried ancient caldera of Krakatoa by searching for charcoal samples to carbon date the eruption. Despite difficulties in finding charcoal due to volcanic activity, he manages to collect 10 samples from layers above and below the major eruption layer. The carbon dating analysis reveals that the layer above the major eruption is dated to 1215 AD, while a layer below is dated to 6600 BC, helping to narrow down the timeframe for the ancient eruption in the 6th century AD.

• 00:46:17

  Scientific evidence indicates a massive volcanic eruption occurred around 535 AD in the tropics, likely led by Krakatoa. It resulted in a global climatic catastrophe, causing darkness, drought, frost, famine, and widespread death. This event marked the beginning of over a hundred years of upheaval that changed human history. The eruption's power was estimated to be equivalent to around 2,000 million Hiroshima-sized nuclear bombs, an unprecedented event in recorded history.

• 00:51:34

  Volcanologist Dr. Ken Willets, an expert on Krakatoa, used data to simulate the 6th-century eruption on a supercomputer, revealing a giant red-hot fountain of molten rock and a vast cloud of ash. The eruption led to a massive explosion, creating a 30-mile-high fountain of magma dust and ash that blocked out the sun in all directions. The fallout from the eruption caused a 'nuclear winter' effect, with high-flying volcanic ash blocking sunlight and causing droughts, famines, and floods globally.

• 00:56:15

  In 536 AD, a climatic catastrophe led to the sun disappearing which intrigued historian David Keys. He explored the possible impacts on human civilization, particularly the political consequences. Keys investigated historical puzzles from the 6th century AD, such as the spread of bubonic plague that devastated the Roman Empire under Emperor Justinian in 542 AD. This outbreak, linked to changes in climate, was caused by the transmission of the plague bacteria from infected rats to humans via fleas. The blockage of the flea's gut due to the bacillus led to their ravenous hunger, prompting them to seek new hosts like humans, resulting in widespread death and agony described by contemporary sources like monk Evagrius.

• 01:00:21

  The changes in temperature following 535, particularly the cooling, may have significantly impacted the spread of the plague. The temperature directly affects the formation of plague bacteria in fleas' guts, with the fibrin clot forming at temperatures below 25 degrees Celsius. If Africa was affected by the global cooling of 535 and 536, it could have created a lethal breeding ground for the plague, which could have been transported through trade routes, ships, rats, and sailors into the Roman Empire. The Roman Empire's greed for African ivory further facilitated the spread of the plague, culminating in a devastating outbreak in Constantinople in 542, where over 10,000 bodies had to be disposed of daily, resulting in chaos and pandemonium across the empire.

• 01:04:25

  In 535 and 536 AD, a climatic catastrophe affected the Mongolian steppe, leading to cold and dry conditions that severely impacted the Avars, a tribe of advanced horsemen. The Avars, known for their advanced horse-riding skills and military technology, were eventually defeated by the Turks in 552 AD. The shift in power between the Avars and Turks may have been influenced by the difference in economies - the Avars relied on a horse-based economy while the Turks had a more diversified economy involving cattle. This economic difference may have played a role in the political events that led to the downfall of the Avars.

• 01:09:14

  Intriguing research by Milne highlighted the contrasting digestive systems of horses and cows, with cows being more efficient in digesting food and able to consume a wider range of vegetation types, making them more resilient during food shortages. The Avars, fleeing to the west after a catastrophic event, regained their horse technology superiority during their journey, leading to their conquests and dominance over other tribes in the Balkans. The Avars eventually threatened the Roman Empire, already weakened by the plague, with constant incursions and even besieging Constantinople at one point.

• 01:13:16

  The Avars chose to blackmail the Roman Empire instead of taking over, extracting vast amounts of gold in return for not fighting. This destabilized the empire, combined with the plague and other economic issues, linked back to the climatic destabilization caused by a volcanic eruption in the mid-6th century. The aftermath of this catastrophe also affected Teotihuacan in central Mexico, where a decline in health, particularly among babies and children, was observed in the population. Rebecca's Story studied skeletons from this era, revealing high rates of infections and deaths among young individuals due to poor maternal health.

• 01:17:22

  New scientific evidence suggests that the decline of the city of Teotihuacan occurred around the middle to late 6th century, 150 years earlier than previously thought. This decline is believed to be linked to a long-lasting drought, which had a devastating effect on the city's food supply, leading to malnutrition and increased mortality. The city was ultimately destroyed when the people rose up against their leader, smashing palaces and setting fire to the city's biggest temple. This was possibly due to a loss of confidence in the ruling elite and religious authorities as the climate crisis worsened.

• 01:21:09

  In 535, a significant event disrupted the status quo of the Roman Empire, leading to major changes worldwide. The aftermath saw ancient civilizations crumbling and new ones emerging, such as in England during the Dark Ages. The arrival of the bubonic plague in Britain around 547 AD, following the devastation in the Roman Empire, had a profound impact on the political landscape, dividing the country between the Celtic Britons in the west and the Anglo-Saxon invaders in the east. The plague brought unprecedented horror and suffering, influencing the course of history in Britain and Ireland.

• 01:25:49

  In 536 AD, a catastrophic event led to a population reduction in Celtic regions, creating a vacuum that allowed Anglo-Saxon peoples to move west into partially empty lands, leading to the emergence of England. The defeat of the plague-stricken Britons by the Anglo-Saxons is theorized to have played a significant role in the formation of England. The collapse of the Marib Dam in Yemen, a region's greatest power in the beginning of the 6th century, due to climatic chaos, led to the abandonment of the dam and migration of its population to a new power base around Medina and Mecca. The emergence of Islam and the birth of new nations like England, Spain, France, Japan, and China are suggested to have been linked to the catastrophic events of 536 AD.

• 01:30:15

  Muhammad's family's reputation for providing food and their social concern helped his ministry gain traction during a time of drought, famine, and plague, which had spread from the Roman Empire. The period was characterized by upheaval and apocalyptic atmosphere due to wars, revolutions, and the collapsing Roman Empire, leading to uncertainty about the future. These events, including the climatic chaos caused by the eruption of 535, influenced the early evolution of Islam. The possibility of future volcanic eruptions, such as Yellowstone Caldera in Wyoming, Long Valley Caldera in California, and the area around Naples, Italy, poses potential risks to populated areas and could have catastrophic effects.

• 01:34:55

  The complex remains active and could lead to major eruptions, posing a significant threat to Italy, Europe, and potentially causing worldwide climatic repercussions with implications for agriculture, disease spread, and global stability. This could disrupt food supplies, necessitating long-term adjustments in farming practices. A global event could lead to infrastructure collapse, disrupting communication and transportation systems, potentially leading to resource conflicts. The gradual impact of such events could take decades to fully manifest, highlighting the importance of understanding the influence of natural forces on shaping history.